Keycase

ABSTRACT

A thin, rectangular keycase divided into four substantially triangular compartments, each of which can be opened independently of the others. The top surface of each compartment is formed tactually distinct from the other compartments which in combination with a spring release and snap latching mechanism enables one-handed retrieval and return to the keycase of any selected key.

United States Patent De Frees [451 July 18, 1972 54] KEYCASE 2,291,896 8/1942 l-lenderson.... ......70/456 R [721 M T. De m, 321 viav Sol, palm 33313;; 3 Kaye: 13 3 3 R Springs Cam 92262 1 9 l Starrett 5 R 3,407,636 10/ l968 Kovacevic ..70/456 R [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe [21] Ap l. No.. 77,783 Attorney-Nilsson, Robbins, Wills&Berliner [52] US. Cl. ..70/456 R [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search A thin, rectangular keycase divided into four substantially tri- 220/29 angular compartments, each of which can be opened independently of the others. The top surface of each compartment is 56] References Cited formed tactually distinct from the other compartments which in combination with a spring release and snap latching UNITED STATES PATENTS mechanism enables one-handed retrieval and return to the keycase of any selected key. 3,279,513 10/1966 Henderson ..l50/40 7 2,228,726 1/1941 Loesch ..70/456 B 10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures KEYCASE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which the invention pertains includes the field of pocket receptacles, particularly keyholders and cases.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wide variety of keyholders have been devised andconstructed enabling the storage of a plurality of keys and their ready retrieval. Pouches, rigid cases, sandwiching plates and other enclosures have been provided, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,278,088, 2,291,896, 2,611,260 and 2,696,101. In each case, a compact holder is provided wherein individual keys can be retrieved with more or less manipulation and searching. However, none of the prior keyholders have been entirely satisfactory in providing convenient access to a selected key and its return to the keycase on the basis of tactual distinction while enclosing the keys in a streamlined case having a minumum of protrusions to wear the pockets.

The present invention provides a keycase having all the foregoing desired features and holds four keys in individual, separately openable compartments. The case is of thin rectangular form, and enables immediate retrieval of a key from any compartment through manipulation with one hand only.

Thereafter, still with manipulation of one hand only, the key may be returned to the case.

With respect to particular details, central to the construction of the keycase is a flat, key carrying plate which supports compartment-defining lids on both sides thereof. A pair of hinge support members are mounted along diagonals crosswise on opposite sides of the plate and the lids are hingedly connected to opposite sides of each hinge support member. The lids thereby close with the plate to define the plural key compartments. A spring is mounted on each hinge support member and cooperates with the lids thereon to spring open a lid when released from a closed position. Each lid is provided with a latch which cooperates with the central plate. As a result of the opposite diagonal disposition of the key compartments, each compartment comes into proper position for manipulation ofthe key selected. I

As a result of the flat, protrusion-free surface of the center plate, when the lid is opened the key slides smoothly out of the compartment into the users fingers. The key is sandwiched between a pair of flat members of a connector which terminates in a pivot pin and ball, which in turn is mounted in a pivot post located at the inner corner of the compartment. When the user wishes to replace the key in the case he merely swings the key up toward the case whereupon the pivot pin and sandwiching connector will carry the key back onto the plate in its compartment. The outer surface of each compartment can be provided with tactually distinct corrugations so that a desired compartment can be readily identified by touch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la-c are side elevational, plan and front elevational views, respectively, of a keycase embodying the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keycase in one stage of operation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the keycase in another stage of operation;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the components of a key connector having key engaging male and female members, defining a key connecting post and including a perspective view of a pivot post used in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector, taken on line 55 of FIG. 3, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of latching components utilized herein, including a lever member, taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a pivot pin component of the lever illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on line 77 of FIG. 6, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a partially broken-away view of the latch mechanism, omitting the lever component for clarity, taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a side view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8, in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line 10-10 of FIG. 8, in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view on line 11-11 of FIG. 8, in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1a-c, various views of the present keycase 10 are shown which illustrate the protrusion free appearance of the case. The keycase 10 is substantially rectangular and relatively slim so that it may be easily carried in pocket or purse. The case is constructed so that there is a minimum of surface protrusions, the only exceptions being a pair of diagonally crossed hinges 12 and 14, four latch hinge plates 16 on opposite off-center sides of the keycase I0, latch release pins 18 and four latch pivot pins 20.

As shown in FIGS. la and c and'referring additionally to FIG. 2, central to the keycase 10 is a flat, substantially rectangular plate 24 which serves to carry the keys 26 as well as to provide a support for a plurality of lids, 28, 30, 32 and 34 which define the exterior surface of the keycase 10. A hinge support member 36 is mounted diagonally medial on each side of the flat plate 24 and is in the form of an inverted elongate T. The hinge support members 36 are mounted diagonally crosswise so as to support the lid hinges 12 and 14 diagonally crosswise as hereinbefore referred to in FIG. 1b.

Each lid 28, 30, 32 and 34 is in the form of a triangle and is hingedly connected along its hypotenuse to the hinge support member 36 on one or the other sides of the plate 24 by cooperation with the hinge pin 38 (in shadow) or 40. The triangular lids 28, 30, 32 and 34 are formed along their legs with dependent flanges 42, 44, 46 and 48, respectively, which cooperate with the outer edges of the flat plate 24 to define four separate key compartments, one of which is shown in an open position in FIG. 2. By such means oppositely disposed compartments are provided on each side of the flat plate 24 and a key 26 can be contained in each compartment, as illustrated in shadow in FIG. 1b.

A coil spring 50 is disposed on each hinge pin 38 and 40 centrally of each hinge support member 36 so that straightformed ends 52 of the springs 50 fit against the inner surfaces of the lids 28, 30, 32 and 34 to continuously urge the lids upwardly. The lids are closed against the force of the spring 50 by means of latches 54. Each latch 54 is carried beneath a lid 28, 30, 32 or 34 and is formed with a lever 56 which cooperates with a hooked flap 58 which is pivotally supported on the aforementioned hinge plate 16. The lever 56 is pivotally secured to the under side of its respective lid by means of the pivot pin 20 and is movable thereabout by means of the release pin 18 which extends through a curved slot 60 defined through the respective lid.

Interoperative latch components are supported on the inner surface of the flanges 42, 44, 46 and 48 which cooperate with the respective lever 18 and flap 58 components to define latch mechanisms as will hereinafter be described in more detail. Each flap 58 terminates in a hooked member 62 which cooperates with a recessed portion 64 of the central plate 24 to latch the respective lid to the plate 24. Importantly, as a result of the cross-wise diagonal disposition of the hinges l2 and 14, the hooked members 62 from adjacent lids protrude into the opposite compartments off-set from one another. The hooked members 62 are each 0.0150 inch thick and the recessed portion 64 of the plate 24 is 0.0125 inch deep, resulting in a protrusion of only 0.025 inch, which presents no practical interference to the sliding movement of the key 26 from that compartment.

Referring to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2, further features of the invention are illustrated. The keycase is formed so that the top surface of each lid 28, 30, 32 and 34 is tactually distinct so that an individual compartment can be readily located with one hand in the dark. This is accomplished in the illustration by forming indentations or serrations in cross directions on the two lids 28 and 30 shown in FIG. 3 and by forming some other textural pattern, such as circles or diamonds, or the like on the other lids 32 and 34. In operation, the user locates a particular compartment containing the desired key by means of the tactual deformations and releases the latch 54 which results in springing open of the lid 28.

The lid 28 is formed with a stop which is similar to the stop 68 illustrated in FIG. 2 as extending from the lid 30. The stop abuts the surface of the flat plate 24 at a location within the horizontally adjacent compartment, at a space in the case which would otherwise be vacant on account of the shape of the key. The stop thereby prevents further upward movement of the lid so that the lid assumes an intermediate position which facilitates its closure with one hand.

After the lid 28 has flipped open, the key 26 readily slides out of the compartment over the smooth flat plate 24 which is substantially free from protrusions, and swings outwardly as shown in FIG. 3.

The key is supported on a connector 70 which terminates in a pivot pin 72 and ball 74 (FIGS. 4 and The lid 28 can be closed and latched over the extending pivot pin 72 which is accommodated within a recess 76 in the lid flange 42. A similar recess is provided for each of the other compartments, as illustrated at 78 in FIGS. la, 2 and 3. After using the key, the lid 28 being still open, by a simple wrist movement the key 26 is caused to slide back over the flat plate 24 and into the compartment defined by the lid 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a more detailed view of the key connector 70 is shown. The connector 70 consists of two flat plates 78 and 80 formed at one end to connect with the pivot pin 72. The other end is provided with a post consisting of male and female members 82 and 84. For the insertion of a key, the flat plates 78 and 80 may be manipulated so that the male and female members 82 and 84 can be inserted within the eye of the key 26. The flat members 78 and 80 are formed at their other end with indent keyed u-members 86 and 88 which join together about the u-shaped end 90 of the pivot pin 72. Thus, each key 26 can be fitted with a connector 70 which terminates in a pivot pin 72 and ball 74. The ball 74 is designed to fit within the top opening 92 defined by a pivot post 94 located in a corner of each compartment, as shown in FIG. 2. The pivot post 94 is formed with a downwardly directed slot 96 leading into a horizontal pivot slot 98 whereby the connector can pivot the key our of the compartment. A cap 95 is secured to the top of the pivot post 94 to seal the opening 92.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-11, the latch 54 mechanism is illustrated in more detail. FIG. 6 illustrates the disposition of the latch components looking into the keycase through the lid 28. The latch lever 56 is supported on the under side of the lid 28 by means of a pivot pin secured through a corresponding opening in the lid which, as can be seen in FIG. 7, engages the pin 20 at a recessed portion 100 thereof. The release pin 18 is secured to the far end of the lever 56 to protrude through the lid slot 60. The forward end of the lever 56 is formed with a downwardly extending L-shaped member shown in shadow at 102 and which extends the depth of the flange 42.

The latch 56 includes the aforementioned hinge plate 16 secured to the outer surface of the lid 28 and which hingedly supports the hooked flap 58. As more clearly shown in FIG. 9, the flap 58 is formed with an inwardly turned hook 104 for engaging the recessed portion 64 of the central flat plate 24 so as to latch the lid 28 in position. The flap 58 carries a member 106 rearwardly which is beveled in a horizontal direction whereby it may be engaged by the L-shaped lever member 102 so that when the lever 56 is pivoted the L-shaped member 102 acts upon the beveled member 106 to swing the flap 58 outwardly, disengaging the hooked portion 104 from the flat plate 24.

A coil spring 108 is disposed with opposite arms internally on the flap 58 and lid 28, biasing the flap 58 to a closed position, as indicated by the arrow 110. Following release of the hook 104, the central coil spring 50 (FIG. 2) springs the lid 28 to an open position, carrying the latch 56 upwardly away from the plate 24. Simultaneously, the force of the latch spring 108 returns the flap 58 to its original position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The latch flap 58 carries an additional beveled member 112 which is disposed vertically with its apex 114 down and its flat end up. When the latch is closed against the plate 24 it is engaged by a protrusion 118 bent outwardly from a pivotal dog 120. As the latch 56 is released and the flap 58 moves outwardly, the vertically beveled member 112 moves out from beneath the protrusion 118, whereupon the dog 120 is pivoted downwardly by the force of a pivot spring 122 against a bearing member 124 protruding from the dog 120. The spring 122 is carried on a grommet 128 secured between the flange 42 and a back plate 130 for the latch 56, as most clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, as the lid 28 is opened, the lower edge 126 (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the free end of the dog 120, actuated by the pivot spring 122, drops below the edge of the lid flange 42, and this condition is illustrated in FIG. 2.

As a result of the foregoing mechanism, the keycase 10 has a disposition as illustrated in FIG. 2, at which point the key 26 can be utilized. After returning the key 26 to the compartment defined by the lid 28 and flat plate 24, the lid 28 can be closed with results in pressing the downwardly pivoted free end 126 of the dog 120 against the flat plate 24 whereupon the protrusion 118 engages the vertically beveled member 112 to pivot the flap 58 to an outward position so that the flap hook 104 can clear the plate 24. As the lid 28 is closed, the lower edge of the protrusion 118 clears the vertically beveled member 112 allowing the spring 108 to carry the flap 58 back into a locked position with snap-lock action.

As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the invention has been disclosed. However, it is to be understood that this embodiment merely exemplifies the invention which may take many different forms that are radically different from the specific illustrative embodiment disclosed. Therefore, specific structural and functional details are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims which define the scope of the invention.

I claim 1. A keycase, comprising:

a key carrying plate;

at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line of said plate;

lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a pair of opposite key compartments therewith;

means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and

means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available.

2. A keycase, comprising:

a key carrying plate;

at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line of said plate;

lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a pair of opposite key compartments therewith;

means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and

means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available;

said plate being substantially rectangular to provide substantially triangular key compartments.

3. The invention according to claim 1 including a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line on the opposite side of said plate, and lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member and closing with said plate to define therewith a separate pair of opposite key compartments.

4. A keycase, comprising:

a key carrying plate;

at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially medial line of said plate;

a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially medial line on the opposite side of said plate cross-wise of each other;

lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said one hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a first pair of opposite key compartments therewith;

lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a second pair of opposite key compartments;

means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and

means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available.

5. The invention according to claim 2 including a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line on the opposite side of said plate crosswise of said firstmentioned hinge support member, and lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member closing with said plate to define therewith a second pair of substantially triangular key compartments opening crosswise of said first-mentioned key compartments.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which the outer edges of said plate are substantially free from protrusions whereby a key may freely slide along said plate out of its compartment when the lid thereon is opened.

7. The invention according to claim 1 including a latch for each lid, each lid latch cooperating with said plate to individually close each said lid therewith.

8. The invention according to claim 1 including a connector for each key terminating in a pivot pin and ball, and a pivot post for each ball mounted on said plate at the inner corner of each of said compartments.

9. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lid opening means comprises a spring mounted on said hinge support member and cooperating with said lid whereby to open said lid when released from a closed position.

10. The invention according to claim 8 in which each said connector comprises a pair of flat members sandwiching said key and connected to said pivot pin to thereby facilitate sliding of said key along said plate. 

1. A keycase, comprising: a key carrying plate; at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line of said plate; lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a pair of opposite key compartments therewith; means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available.
 2. A keycase, comprising: a key carrying plate; at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line of said plate; lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a pair of opposite key compartments therewith; means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available; said plate being substantially rectangular to provide substantially triangular key compartments.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 including a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line on the opposite side of said plate, and lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member and closing with said plate to define therewith a separate pair of opposite key compartments.
 4. A keycase, comprising: a key carrying plate; at least one hinge support member mounted on a substantially medial line of said plate; a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially medial line on the opposite side of said plate cross-wise of each other; lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said one hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a first pair of opposite key compartments therewith; lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member and closing with said plate to define a second pair of opposite key compartments; means for mounting a key in each said compartment; and means for opening a selected lid without opening any other lid whereby a key in one only of said compartments may be made available.
 5. The invention according to claim 2 including a second hinge support member mounted on a substantially diagonal line on the opposite side of said plate crosswise of said first-mentioned hinge support member, and lids hingedly connected to opposite sides of said second hinge support member closing with said plate to define therewith a second pair of substantially triangular key compartments opening crosswise of said first-mentioned key compartments.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 in which the outer edges of said plate are substantially free from protrusions whereby a key may freely slide along said plate out of its compartment when the lid thereon is opened.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 including a latch for each lid, each lid latch cooperating with said plate to individually close each said lid therewith.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 including a connector for each key terminating in a pivot pin and ball, and a pivot post for each ball mounted on said plate at the inner corner of each of said compartments.
 9. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lid opening means comprises a spring mounted on said hinge support member and cooperating with said lid whereby to open said lid when released from a closed position.
 10. The invention according to claim 8 in which each said connector comprises a pair of flat members sandwiching said key and connected to said pivot pin to thereby facilitate sliding of said key along said plate. 